Guitar, Interrupted

Recently and for the second time, I watched Sir Paul McCartney receive the Gershwin Award on PBS's In Performance at the White House series. Such wonderful music. I watched entranced as performer after performer came out to offer an interpretation of this or that miracle from his musical treasure trove. Almost every melody and lyric could evoke a tear but none so strong as when he finally rose to give us three or four himself.

My emotion reached its crescendo when he concluded with Yesterday. He described how the melody just came to him - fully formed - during a night's sleep although he admitted the lyric took some massaging. I'm left to pray that just once - even if it's just for me and no one else ever hears it - I could be so inspired. It is MUSIC that tells me that I am human. What a gift! What power to move the human spirit.

Jefferson wrote "I cannot live without books." I don't want to either, but it is music that I cannot live without. It communicates the essence of life, and I know that the inability to perform - to share what I am feeling in this most intimate fashion - is what I miss the most from my younger and healthier days. It is a loss most profound.

TGB   

A Farewell To Anna

Lay down

your sweet and weary head.

Night is falling.

You have come to journey's end.

Sleep now,

and dream of the ones who came before.

They are calling

from across a distant shore

Why do you weep?

What are these tears upon your face?

Soon you will see all of your fears pass away.

Safe in my arms, you're only sleeping.

What can you see on the horizon?

Why do the white gulls call?

Across the sea a pale moon rises.

The ships have come to carry you home.

And all will turn

to silver glass.

A light on the water,

all Souls pass.

Hope fades

into the world of night,

through shadows falling

out of memory and time.

Don't say we have come now to the end.

White shores are calling.

You and I will meet again,

and you'll be here in my arms, just sleeping.

What can you see on the horizon?

Why do the white gulls call?

Across the sea a pale moon rises.

The ships have come to carry you home.

And all will turn

to silver glass.

A light on the water,

grey ships pass

into the West.

Lyrics to Into the West that accompanies the Annalise slideshow posted yesterday. TGB

An Anna To Remember

For A Few Rubles More

Wednesdays Without Words

Digital Photograph. St. Petersburg, Russia. ©Thomas G. Brown. 2003.

Finding Leo

Okay. I'm sure this will sadden someone: I'm not buying any of this pseudoscientific mumbo-jumbo. It is, however, very entertaining. I post it so that those of you who are believers will know what to expect from me in the coming year.

TGB   

My Reading
Turning over a new leaf is a big theme this year as this is a period of new beginnings for you. Love relationships are in focus as you attempt to bring balance and equality into this area of your life. Holding on too tightly, however, can lead to resistance. The major key to success this year is managing to keep your feet on the ground and your expectations realistic. Positive connections can be made through learning endeavors.

2010 is a Number Three year for you. Ruled by Jupiter. This is a year of sociability. It is a friendly time, when it is easy to enjoy life and other people. Focus is on personal freedom, reaching out to others, making new friends, and exploration. You are more enthusiastic and ready for adventure. It is likely to be a rather lighthearted year, when opportunities for "play" time are greater than usual. It's also a good year for expressing your creativity. Advice - reach out, but avoid scattering your energies.